Tourist office
Danish Tourist Office in Germany
P.O.Box 70 17 40
22017 Hamburg
Tel: 0049 – (0) 1805 – 32 64 63
Web: www.visitdenmark.com
Denmark Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date but are based on the location of Easter. Easter takes place on the first Sunday that follows the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which ends on Holy Saturday, is 46 days before Holy Saturday. The date for Pentecost is then 50 days after Easter. The Corpus Christi festival is celebrated on the 2nd Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
April | Day of Prayer and Repentance |
1st of May | Labor Day |
May | Ascension of Christ |
June 5 | Foundation day |
15th June | Waldemarstag |
23rd June | Sankthansaften (the evening before St. Hans Day) |
June 24 | St. Hans Day |
December 24th, 25th, 26 | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Denmark Holidays
Cultural events
On June 15 the Waldemarstag is celebrated. According to legend, on this day the Danish national flag, the Dannebrog, fell from the sky near Lyndaniz in Estonia, where the Danish King Valdemar II (the victor) led a crusade against the pagan Wends in 1219. This day has been Denmark’s national holiday since 1913, when small Dannebrog flags are sold.
On 23 June the Midsummer Eve Sankt Hans Aften is celebrated. The evening before the birthday of John the Baptist has become one of the most popular memorial days. You often meet with family and friends and have dinner together. At 10 p.m., a large pile of wood with a witch’s doll on top is lit in the squares. Together they sing the famous midsummer night song by the Danish poet Holger Drachmann, the “Midsommervise”.
On November 10th, the Danes celebrate the Saint Martin festival. For many Danes, roast duck or goose is served on the table this evening. Legend has it that Martin was betrayed by the chattering of geese when he hid out of modesty to avoid his appointment as bishop.
Sporting events
Not all sport is the same in Denmark. The Old Norse word “idræt” does not always refer to sport. Although both words are often used interchangeably in everyday language, the difference is more than just linguistic. The term “idræt” is used to refer to a wide range of activities that aim at wellbeing, exercise, fun, community experience and personality development. All sports clubs use the word “idræt”. The term “sport” is only applied to the sub-area of physical exercise that is about performance and measurable results.
Fishing in Denmark requires a license, which can be purchased in post shops, tourist offices or fishing tour operators.
About 5.suitable.
Water sports such as sailing, canoeing and diving are very popular sports in Denmark. Boats and equipment can be rented on site.
There are numerous golf courses in Denmark.
National customs
One of the most important words in the life of the Danes is “hygge”, which means: ‘make yourself comfortable’.
Rescuing the Danish Jews
During the Second World War, Denmark was occupied from April 9, 1940 to May 5, 1945. There was only a few military resistance in Copenhagen or Jutland. But amazingly, the occupiers left the Danish government and other institutions in office until 1943. Even the army and the navy were left under Danish command.
However, the situation changed after the defeat in Stalingrad. The Danish resistance groups then started strikes and sabotage. When the Danish government refused to grant an ultimatum on August 28, 1943, prohibiting assembly, imposing a curfew, military courts and the death penalty, it was deposed. In addition, the Germans introduced martial law and the Danish army was disarmed. The Danish warships were sunk by their crews.
After the Allies landed in Normandy in 1944, traffic with the Danish State Railways was blocked for days so that no German soldiers could be transferred to the front in France.
In addition, the Danish police, comprised of around 10,000 officers, refused to crack down on the Danish resistance. The police were therefore disbanded on September 19, 1944, and 2,235 police officers were also deported to the Neuengamme and Buchenwald concentration camps. Around 600 Danes perished in the concentration camps. Around 850 people lost their lives from the Danish resistance.
From February 1945, on Hitler’s orders, hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from Western Pomerania as well as from West and East Prussia across the Baltic Sea to Denmark. After the Germans withdrew from Denmark in May 1945, around 250,000 refugees in Denmark were housed in the previous Wehrmacht barracks and camps. The last of them did not return to Germany until February 1949..
Balance sheet
After the war, the Danes arrested around 40,000 people on suspicion of collaboration with the Germans and sentenced 78 of them to death. The execution of the death sentences was only carried out in a total of 46 cases.
Note
There is a museum in Copenhagen that shows the history of the Danish resistance and the rescue of the Jews. More details here >>>
In the summer of 1942, the staunch Nazi and anti-Semite Werner Best came to Denmark as Reich Plenipotentiary. Best had previously played an inglorious role in the persecution of the Jews in France, where he was considered the bloodhound of Paris.
He telegraphed to Berlin on September 8, 1943, to finally initiate action against the Danish Jews. As early as September 19, 1943, his suggestion was followed and Himmler was commissioned to carry it out from Berlin.
But another German in a higher position – Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz – informed his informants in the Danish government and members of the Danish Jews.
The deportations began on the night of October 2, 1943. Around 1,500 Danish police officers and a unit of the Danish SS were involved in the operation. Due to the warning, they only fell into a few 100 Jews, 200 of them on a ship were taken for deportation. But neither the German armed forces nor the Danish police showed any particular commitment to the action in the cities of the country
But most of the Jews had already fled the cities to the countryside and were taken from there to Sweden by fishermen and sport boatmen. In some cases they were even supported by the Danish police. In this way, around 7,740 Jews were saved and only around 70 were murdered. Denmark was the only country that was able to save almost all of its Jewish fellow citizens from the Nazis. An unbelievable moral and organizational achievement. Almost a whole people had stood together in the hour of need.
Denmark: climate
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people who want to spend a pure beach holiday, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role.
The following seasons are particularly suitable for a stay in the country for people who like to enjoy a lot of sun and for whom higher temperatures do not cause problems: Summer. For people who prefer
a temperate climate People who prefer a temperate climate and lower temperatures should better use the following seasons to stay in Denmark: spring, summer, autumn.
Climate table
The following table shows a range of climate data for the country.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 17 | 02 | -02 |
February | 13 | 02 | -03 |
March | 12 | 05 | -01 |
April | 12 | 11 | 03 |
May | 11 | 16 | 08 |
June | 13 | 19 | 11 |
July | 14 | 22 | 14 |
August | 14 | 21 | 14 |
September | 14 | 18 | 11 |
October | 16 | 12 | 07 |
November | 16 | 07 | 03 |
December | 17 | 04 | 01 |
Denmark: sights
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that DK stands for the nation of Denmark as a two-letter acronym.
Special buildings
Christiansbor Palace in Copenhagen
The palace is the seat of government and parliament. In July and August there are daily German tours at 12 noon, 1 pm and 3 pm except Mondays. Here you can also visit the remains of the fortification, which stood here in the same place and was built in 1167 on behalf of Bishop Absalon.
Århus Music
House It was inaugurated in 1982. It is home to a symphony orchestra and the internationally renowned Jyske Opera.
City Hall – Copenhagen
The town hall was built in neo-Renaissance style according to plans by the Danish architect Martin Nyrop (1849-1921) and inaugurated in September 1905. It was or is the sixth town hall in the history of Copenhagen. The tower of the building has a height of 105.6 m and can be climbed. The tower is currently the tallest in Denmark.
It is worth mentioning the brick facade with the gilded statue of the city’s founder, Bishop Absalon (1128-1201). From here the queen or the king greets the population on special occasions, but also athletes, important actors, musicians or great intellectuals show themselves here to the people. The chiming of the town hall clock is broadcast on the radio every day at noon. The town hall is in close proximity to the amusement park “Tivoli”
The town hall has been a listed building since 1981.
Rådhuspladsen
Courthouse – Copenhagen
There is probably no other building in Denmark that is more pure classicism.
Round Tower – Copenhagen
Actually a part of the Trinitaskirche, the 36 meter high tower offers a beautiful overview over the roofs of the city. The observatory is also located here.
Big bridges
East
Bridge The bridge over the Great Belt has a length of 6,790 m. The suspension bridge leads from Zealand to the small island of Sprogø.
West Bridge
The West Bridge is 6,611 m long and leads from Sprogø to Fyn. From a traffic point of view, the east and west bridges form a unit
Øresund Bridge
The bridge, which has been in operation since 2000, is 7,845 meters long and is the longest cable-stayed bridge for road and rail traffic in the world and connects the Danish city of Copenhagen with the Swedish city of Malmö. The single crossing for a car is the equivalent of around 30 euros.
Museums
Carlsberg Brewery Museum – Copenhagen
Who does not know the beer from the Carlsberg brewery. Here you can find out more about the art of brewing beer and enjoy a sip or two of beer
Valby Langgade 1
Andersen Museum – Copenhagen
The museum exhibits numerous artifacts by the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen (1805-) – including letters, manuscripts and photographs. The museum is located in close proximity to Copenhagen City Hall – on Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square).
Workers ‘museum – Copenhagen
There is also that in Copenhagen – a workers’ museum. The museum was born in 1982 and today the collection consists of around 63,000 objects and 12,000 works of art from the Danish world of work and especially the Danish trade union movement.
The building in which the museum is located was the assembly building of the workers in Copenhagen – comparable to the German trade union houses. The magnificent glass ceiling of the large ballroom dates from 1907 and was built in the Art Nouveau style. The building has been a listed building since 1983.
Rømersgade 22
1362 København
Tel.: 0045 – (0) 33 – 93 25 75 Arkenmuseum – Copenhagen
This modern art museum was opened in 1996 in Ishøj – around 20 km from Copenhagen. The museum mainly exhibits contemporary art from Denmark and other Nordic countries.
The avant-garde form of the museum is reminiscent of a huge hull, hence the name Arken = ark. In a multifunctional hall you can also enjoy theater and ballet performances as well as movies. A restaurant takes care of the physical well-being.
Tel.: 0045 – (0) 45 – 540222
Amber Museum – Copenhagen
This museum is located on Neumarkt. Here the visitor can not only view numerous amber artefacts but also buy them
Kongens Nytorv (Royal New Market) No. 2
Danish Architecture Center – Copenhagen
This museum should not only be visited by architects and architecture enthusiasts, as there are changing exhibitions of Danish and international architecture. The visitor will find models, drawings and photos here – lectures are also offered. The center also houses a documentation department with an overview of the newer Danish architecture. An architecture shop and a restaurant with a view of the harbor are also available to visitors.
Strandgade 27B
1401 Copenhagen K Danish Jewish Museum – Copenhagen
The Danish Jewish Museum (Dansk Jødisk Museum) documents the 400-year history of the Jews in Denmark. A special focus of the exhibition is on the circumstances of the rescue of Danish Jews during the occupation of Denmark from April 9, 1940 to May 5, 1945 by German troops.
The building, which opened in 2004, was designed by the American architect Daniel Libeskind (born in 1946 in Łódź, Poland), who also planned the Jewish Museum in Berlin, which opened in 1999.
Provisioning passage 6
1218 København
Design Museum – Copenhagen
The Design Museum – the former art industry museum – exhibits industrial design products and handicrafts from Denmark from the 20th and 21st centuries. The museum was opened to the public in 1895. It should and should bring people closer to the products of Danish designers and manufacturers and give the Danish industry suggestions. The museum has been located in the rooms of the former Frederikshospital (Kongelige Frederiks Hospitals) near Amalienborg Palace since 1926. The Frederikshospital was built under the reign of King Frederik V (1723-1766) between 1752 and 1757 in the Rococo style. It should be mentioned that the building is surrounded by gardens. A cafe also invites you to stop.
Freedom Museum
In the Freedom Museum, visitors will find weapons and other pieces of equipment from the Danish resistance movement against the Nazi occupiers. The museum was founded in 1957 by former resistance fighters. The Germans occupied Denmark in April 1940.
The Danish resistance saved numerous Jews from deportation in 1943 and initially took over security tasks in the country after 1945. The museum is located near the Copenhagen Castle.
Churchill Park
Geological Museum – Copenhagen
This museum is an Eldorado for people interested in geology. Here the visitor will find fossils, minerals, fossils and even meteorite remains. The museum is located on the grounds of the Botanical Garden, where the Botanical Museum is also located.
Easter Voldgade 7
Louis Tussauds wax figure museum
In the Tussaud wax figure museum the visitor finds – as in numerous other such exhibitions – many famous people represented as wax figures.
HC Andersen Boulevard 22
M/S Maritime Museum – Copenhagen
The museum opened its doors in October 2013 in the city of Elsinore – near Copenhagen – in a building designed by the architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Here the visitor will find all sorts of artifacts related to shipping, such as sailor statues, navigation devices or numerous ship models. The museum is the official “Danish Museum of Merchant Shipping” from the Middle Ages to the present day. It should be mentioned that the museum has existed since 1915 – but in different rooms so far.
Elsinore – near Kronborg Castle
Hirschsprung`sche Collection – Copenhagen
The building of this museum – in the Danish Hirschsprungske Samling – was built by the Danish architect Hermann Baagøe Storck in neoclassical style and inaugurated in 1911. The museum houses the collection of paintings by the former tobacco manufacturer Heinrich Hirschsprung (-1908), which has been given to the city, and includes a number of important pictures by Danish artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. In the course of time, the collection was supplemented and expanded through a series of acquisitions.
The museum building is located in Østre Anlæg Park by Rosenborg Castle. The building is now a listed building.
Music Museum – Copenhagen
The Music Museum (Musikhistorisk Museum) is in close proximity to Rosenborg Castle. In the museum the visitor will find numerous examples of European and African musical instruments from the early modern era to the 20th century. The museum also has a library and a concert hall.
National Museum – Copenhagen
The museum (Nationalmuseet) is the most important museum of the cultural history of Denmark. Here exhibits and explanations of life 10,000 years ago in Europe, Scandinavia and Denmark until the 19th century are shown. A highlight of the exhibition is the “Little Sun Chariot” from the Bronze Age around 1,500 BC! The exhibit was unearthed from a bog on Zealand in 1902. Furthermore, the visitor will find a large collection of coins and medals from ancient Greece and Rome as well as from modern cultures. The extensive ethnographic collection offers the visitor an insight into the life of African tribes, Indian cultures and the Enuit.
The museum is located in the 18th century Prince’s Palace near Christiansborg
Palace, Frederiksholms Kanal 12
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek – Copenhagen
The Neue Carlsberg Glyptotek is an excellent address for art lovers. The museum has both ancient sculptures from the Mediterranean region – from Egypt, Rome and Greece – as well as modern sculptures by Auguste Rodin and Edgar Degas. But the visitor will also find Danish and French paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries here.
The museum’s holdings come from an extensive art collection belonging to the Danish industrialist Jacob Christian Jacobsen, whose son Carl Jacobsen bequeathed the collection to the city in 1888.
Jacob Christian Carlsber founded the Carlsberg beer factory, which is still world-famous today.
The name of the art collection goes back to the Glyptothek in Munich and the patron of the collection – the Carlsberg Brewery. The design for the building comes from the architects Vilhelm Dahlerup and Hack Kampmann. In 2006 the building was extensively renovated.
Address: Dante Plads
State Art Museum – Copenhagen
The State Museum for Art (Statens Museum for Kunst) – the largest art museum in the country – exhibits Danish works of art from the 19th century as well as European works of art from the 13th to the present day, including works by Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn as well as by Tintoretto and Tizian. The original building was planned by Vilhelm Dahlerup and completed in 1896. In 1970 ten more rooms were added and in 1998 a new building was even built next to the old one to make room for the numerous exhibits.
National Gallery of Denmark
Statens Museum for Kunst
Sølvgade 48-50
1307 København
City Museum with Sören Kierkegaard Collection – Copenhagen
The City Museum of Copenhagen has been located in a building that was built in 1787 since 1956 and belonged to the Royal Hunting Association of Copenhagen until after the Second World War – until the city took over the building. Before 1956 the museum resided in the city hall.
The museum shows the visitor the history of the city, from the Middle Ages to the present day. These include references to the life of the royal families as well as the “better circles” of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen upper class. But there are also references to the life of the poorer classes. This is brought closer to the visitor by means of clothing, various furnishings or copperplate engravings. Even the city’s sewer system is explained. You can experience all of this almost lifelike through a film. With the help of models, you can also understand the development of the city.
Friends of the philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) will find insights into the life and works of this important Danish scientist in some of the rooms. Kirkegaard was born in Copenhagen where he died at the age of 42.
Vesterbrogade 59
Tel.: +0045 – (0) 33 – 210772
Thorvaldsen Museum – Copenhagen
The museum shows works by the most famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844), who was born and died in Copenhagen. This includes busts, sculptures, reliefs and drawings. A total of around 500 artefacts – including pictures by artists from the 18th and 19th centuries – are on display. The city of Copenhagen was appointed as the administrator of the estate – but with the obligation to erect a building for a museum. The city complied with this last request and had the architect Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll design what is now the Thorvaldsen Museum. The building, designed in the style of antiquity, was inaugurated in 1848. This makes this museum the oldest public museum in Denmark. Thorvaldsen found his final resting place in the courtyard of the museum.
Porthusgade 2
Zoological Museum – Copenhagen
Ornithologists will be interested to know that this is the center of bird ringing in Denmark. The museum belonging to the university is a state natural history museum.
Other natural history museums are the “Geological Museum” and the “Botanical Museum”. The beginnings of the collection of today’s museum go back to the Danish archaeologist and archivist Ole Worm (1588-1654), whose collection after his death by the Danish King Friedrich III. (1609-1670) was acquired and incorporated into his Kunstkammer. In 1862 the Royal Natural History Museum – the successor to the Kunstkammer – and the university’s zoological collection became today’s Zoological Museum. A new building accessible to the public was built for the Muse in 1870. In 1970, a new museum was built at the current location in the university park.
The museum’s huge collection includes around 10 million dead animals – including the skeleton of a whale
Address: Universitetsparken 15
Opera and theater
Royal Theater – Copenhagen
The theater was built between 1872 and 1874 in the late Renaissance style. There used to be a previous building from 1748 called “Det danske Komediehus”, which was completely neglected at the end of absolutism and was replaced by a new building.
Opera, drama and ballet performances are shown in the house. The statues of the poet Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger and the playwright Ludvig Holberg are striking at the entrance. Visitors should order tickets well in advance.
Kongens Nytorv
Royal Conservatory of Music – Copenhagen
The Royal Conservatory of Music was founded in 1867. Concerts take place there.
Niels Brocksgade 1
Royal Opera – Copenhagen
The Royal Opera is located on the island of Holmen opposite the New Playhouse and is the national opera of Denmark. It was designed by the Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen (1925-2013) and is considered to be one of the most modern opera houses in the world. Construction work began in 2001. On January 15, 2005 the opera house was inaugurated in the presence of the Danish Queen Margrethe II and the then Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Concert Hall – Copenhagen
The Copenhagen Concert Hall – located on the 96.3 km² island of Amager in the Ørestad district of Kopehagen – is the concert hall of Danish radio and part of the “DR Byen” (Danmarks Radio City) complex, where the broadcaster’s headquarters are located. The plans for the building came from the French architect Jan Nouvel, who has been awarded the Pritzker Prize. The building opened in January 2009.
The concert hall in its cube shape impresses with its blue fiberglass facade, which is illuminated in blue at night. It has a length of 100 m, a width of 60 m and a height of 45 m. The building has a large foyer and four concert halls of different sizes, the largest of which is 24 m high and can accommodate around 1,800 visitors. The fact that there are no right angles here is downright sensational. The three smaller halls are used in particular for events involving rock and pop music as well as jazz. The acoustic concept was created by the Japanese Yasuhisa Toyota.
DR Byen
Emil Holms Kanal 20
0999 København C
New Playhouse – Copenhagen
The city’s New Playhouse impresses with its architecture, which has become a magnet for visitors and residents of the city. The architects Lundgaard and Tranberg were responsible for the planning. it is located at the harbor directly opposite the opera planned by the Henning Larsen architects.
Kongevej
Churches and other sacred buildings
There are over 2,400 churches and monasteries in Denmark. therefore only a few important examples can be presented here.
Church in Ribe
Ribe is an important trading and port city. It was a metropolis of the Viking Age from the 8th century. One of the first Christian churches in the north was built in Ribe in 860, the episcopal see dates from 948. Ribe has also been a royal residence since the 12th century.
Ribe Cathedral
The fascinating cathedral in the port city of Ribe is more than 800 years old.
Church of Our Savior – Copenhagen
This church in Copenhagen has a beautiful baroque altar. From the church tower, to which an external spiral staircase leads, you have a very nice view over parts of the city.
Grundtvig
Church – Copenhagen This building in the Danish capital is one of the most important architectural achievements of modern Denmark. The church also has one of the largest organs in Northern Europe.
Roskilde Cathedral
Church (Kirke) of Roskilde was started in the 12th century and completed at the end of the 13th century. Romanesque and Gothic elements mix on the building. Further construction work up to the 20th century resulted in a great variety of styles. Roskilde Cathedral has been a World Heritage Site since 1995.
Round churches in Bornholm
The four whitewashed round churches in Bornholms are among the most beautiful in the country. The largest is the Østerlarskirke in East Bornholm. In the north of Bornholm is the Olskirke, the Nylarskirke is known for its frescoes from the 13th century, the fourth Nykirke church is smaller and the youngest of the four round churches.
St. Petri/German Church
Dating from 1756, St. Petri Church is the oldest in Copenhagen. It has a 78 meter high tower and is the church of the German community.
Synagogue of Copenhagen
The synagogue was built in 1833 by the architect Gustav Friedrich von Hetsch.
Frauenkirche von Copenhagen
At the place of today’s Frauenkirche (Vor Frue Kirke), which is also known as the cathedral and is the cathedral of Copenhagen, there were already several previous buildings.
The direct preceding building was destroyed by English cannons during the siege of Copenhagen in 1807. Before that, a church had been standing here since 1209, which burned down in 1314.
A newly built brick building was a victim of the great fire in Copenhagen in 1728 and another new building was destroyed in 1807 by cannon fire from English troops.
The plans for today’s building in the classicism style came from the architect Christian Frederik Hansen. The church was completed in 1829.
Nørregade 6
Marble Church/Frederik’s Church
Construction of this church began in 1749, but was not completed until 1894 for financial reasons.
From the 84 m and 32 m wide high dome of the building you have a fantastic view of the Palace Square and the Copenhagen Opera House.
The church was built from marble stones by the French architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin – hence its common name as marble church.
Frederiksgade 4
Universities
University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet)
Denmark’s oldest and largest university is a child of 1479, which makes it the second oldest university in Scandinavia after Uppsala University. The renowned educational institution has buildings that are spread across the entire city of Copenhagen. The main building, however, belongs to the city center and is well worth seeing. The University of Copenhagen, where Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr worked, is currently attended by around 33,000 students.
Other important higher education institutions in Copenhagen are:
- Denmark’s Technical University
- Danish Design School Copenhagen
- Danish Film School Copenhagen
- College of Fine Arts and Architecture
- Copenhagen Business School
- Copenhagen University of Engineering
- IT University of Copenhagen
- Royal Library School of Denmark with the Danish Royal Library
- Royal Danish Conservatory of Music
- Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
- Royal Danish Academy of Sciences
- Pedagogical University of Denmark
- Rytmisk Music Conservatory
- Modern Dance School Copenhagen
- Copenhagen State Theater School
Eco project on the island of Samsø
Samsø is an island in the Kattegat between Zealand – with the capital Copenhagen – and Jutland in the north above Schleswig Holstein. The island covers an area of around 112 km² with around 4,100 residents. Its highest point is the Ballebjerg with a little less than 65 m.
In 1997 an ecological model experiment began here, which has meanwhile progressed so far that the island gets all of its energy needs from renewable energy sources and can even feed electricity into the national grid, which is associated with good yields. The energy is mainly obtained from wind power and solar energy. Including an offshore wind park with ten wind turbines with an output of 2.3 MW per wind turbine. But straw, for example, also serves as an additional energy carrier – with approx. 600 kg of straw corresponding to 200 liters of oil in terms of energy.
Visitors can use the island, for example, with the ferry from Kalundborg on Zealand to “Kolby Kås” or from Hov on Jutland to “Sælvig”. There are also a number of harbors on the island for sailors and other water sports enthusiasts.
Natural beauties
Thy National Park
This national park in North Jutland – one of a total of five national parks in Denmark – was officially inaugurated on August 22, 2008, making it the country’s oldest national park. It covers an area of 24,370 ha = 243.7 km².
It extends over a length of around 55 km from Agger in the south to Hanstholm in the north along the North Sea coast.
The national park is between 5 and 12 km wide. The characteristic and little touched dune heather landscape was formed by the North Sea, the wind, salt and sand. Large plantations and some of the cleanest lakes in Denmark complete the picture of Denmark’s largest wilderness. The park combines the North Sea coast, sand dunes, dune heath, wetlands, freshwater lakes and lime-rich coastal slopes as well as dune plantations with a large proportion of conifers.
Mols Bjerge National Park The Mols Bjerge
National Park covers an area of 180 km² and contains large forests, heathland and pasture land, lakes as well as coastal and marine areas of the Baltic Sea. It stretches from the coast of the Kattegat in the east of Jutland to the Kalø forests in the west, from the bays in the south, over the magnificent moraine landscape of the Mols Bjerge peninsula to the Ice Age regions in the north. The national park also includes the town of Ebeltoft, villages and areas with summer houses. The landscape was created during the last ice age.
You can find numerous lizards and adders here.
The aim of the national park is to preserve, strengthen and further develop nature, the local cultural sites and geological features, and to offer visitors information about the area.
Mols Bjerge National Park
Grenaavej 12,
8410 Rønde
National Park Skjern Å
The National Park Skjern Å covers an area of around 24,500 ha = 245 km². The park, which opened on January 17th, extends over the municipalities of Ringkøbing-Skjern and Herning in Central Jutland.
The Skjern Au (Skjern Å) flows through the park. The water depth is between 1 m and 3 m and flows into the Ringköbing Fjord at Skjern and is the namesake of the park. The river is one of the most popular fishing waters in Denmark.
You will find wet meadows, floodplains and wetlands as well as numerous bodies of water. The national park has well-developed paths that lead over the water with the help of wooden bridges.
You can fish, bike, go for a walk and enjoy the numerous birds. It is particularly recommended to explore the landscape by canoe or paddle boat.
The variety of local birds is overwhelming, including the little grebes, great crested grebes, teals, pintail and shovelers, from avocets to ruff, egrets, gray geese, barnacle geese and of course the lapwing.
Particularly noteworthy are the large majestic osprey and sea eagles
Wadden Sea National Park
The Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site (Vadehavet) stretches from the German-Danish border in the south to Blåvandshuk and Ho Bugt in the north. The Wadden Sea Islands Fanø, Rømø and Mandø also belong to it.
The Danish Wadden Sea was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014 after the German and Dutch Wadden Sea.
The sandbanks in the Wadden Sea are popular places to stay for breeding seals. The three Wadden Sea islands Fanø, Rømø and Mandø offer a partially untouched nature with dunes and beautiful beaches.
Bird lovers get their money’s worth here, as one of the world’s most important breeding and resting places for millions of birds can be found here. Especially in Tøndermarsken (Tondermarsken), thousands of starlings can be seen in spring and autumn, forming fantastic formations in the sky – a phenomenon known as the “black sun.”
Information can be found in the Wadden Sea Center (Vadehavscentret) near Vester Vedsted over the mudflats and take part in a guided tour organized by the center.
Kongernes Nordsjælland
National Park This national park covers an area of 5,600 ha = 56 km² and is one of the rather small national parks. The park is located in the north of Zealand (Sjælland), an island of around 7,031 km², on which, for example, Copenhagen is located.
The core of the national park is the Gribskov, one of the most beautiful deciduous forests in Denmark with natural forest and swamp forests. The park also includes the Esrumsee (Esrum Sø) and the Arresø. North Zealand used to enjoy the special favor of the Danish kings. The many castles such as Søborg, Gurre, Kronborg, Frederiksborg and Fredensborg as well as their unique hunting trail system still bear witness to this today. In the east, the national park is bordered by Lake Esrum, which is the third largest lake in Denmark in terms of area (17 km²), but the largest in terms of its water volume (0.23 km³).
Its deepest point is 22.5 m below the water surface.
Cliff Møns Klint
It stretches 12 km around the eastern tip of the island Møn. The up to 128 m high chalk cliffs are around 75 million years old.
The island of Møn on the southern tip of Zealand covers an area of 217.8 km² with around 10,000 residents.
Danish South Seas
The Danish Baltic Sea south of the Little and Great Belts belongs to the Danish South Seas. The Little Belt separates the island of Funen from Jutland and the Great Belt separates Funen from Zealand.
The area is particularly popular with sailors. The islands of Ærø, Alsen, Langeland, Lolland, Møn and Falster and a large number of tiny islets are located here
Sunde and Belte
General
Belte and Sunden are straits, which in principle only differ linguistically. In the states of the Baltic Sea region and Norway, a strait is called a sound,
while in Denmark or on its borders it is called a belte. Great Belt The Great Belt (Storebælt) lies between the two islands of Funen (Fyn) and the island of Zealand (Sjælland) with the capital Copenhagen to the east. The Great Belt is between 20 and 30 km wide – with a length of around 70 km. In the south it merges into the Langelandsbelt between the islands of Langeland and Lolland. With a depth of 60 m for the Baltic Sea, the Belt is quite deep.
In 1998 the Storebæltsforbindelsen (Great Belt connection) was opened between Korsør on Zealand and Nyborg on Funen.
This connection consists of a road bridge with a central section as a suspension bridge – with a span of 1,624 m – and a several kilometers long “flat bridge” for road and rail traffic between the artificially enlarged island of Sprogø and Nyborg on Funen.
To the north of the road bridge, an 8,024 m long two-tube railway tunnel (Great Belt Railway Tunnel) leads from the island of Sprogø to Korsør on Zealand.
This connection has made it possible to travel via Jutland – without using a ferry – to Copenhagen and then over the Öresund Bridge to Malmö in Sweden.
Little Belt
The Little Belt (Lillebælt) is a strait that separates the Jutland (Jylland) peninsula from the island of Fyn (Fyn). The Little Belt is the strait between the Jutland (Jylland) peninsula and the island of Fyn (Fyn) in Denmark. It begins at Fredericia in the north and ends around the island of Aero (Ærø) in the south, where it merges into the Alsen Belt. This strait forms the westernmost connection between the Baltic Sea in the south and the Kattegat in the north.
The “Little Belt” has a length of a little more than 40 km between Aero and Fredericia – with a width between 0.6 km and approx. 15 km.
There are two bridges to Funen near the village of Middelfart – the old railway and road bridge “Little Belt Bridge” (Lillebæltsbro) from 1935 and the motorway bridge “New Little Belt Bridge” (Ny Lillebæltsbro) opened in 1970. Because of the course of the local waters, the two bridges are almost at right angles to each other.
Øresund, Øresund Bridge
The Øresund lies between Denmark and Sweden and separates in particular Copenhagen and Malmö as well as Helsingör in Denmark from Helsingborg in Sweden. The strait between the northern tip of Funen and Trelleborg is around 90 km long – with a width between approx. 3.5 at Helsingör and approx. 45 km.
Between Copenhagen and Malmö, the Øresund is crossed by the spectacular Øresund Bridge. The bridge was opened on July 1, 2000. This bridge, together with the Drogden Tunnel and the artificial island of Peberholm, connects Sweden with Denmark. From Malmö you can take this double-decker bridge by train or car without using a ferry, for example to Copenhagen, which is around 45 kilometers by road (as the crow flies around 30 km) from Malmö. Pedestrians and cyclists cannot use the bridge.
The length of the entire bridge is 7,845 m – with a width of 23.5 m. The access to the central 1,092 m long high bridge – the actual Öresund bridge – is via two ramp bridges – the 3,014 m long western ramp bridge and the 3,739 m long eastern ramp bridge.
The bridge is called Öresundsbron in Swedish and Øresundsbroen in Danish. This resulted in the official name of the bridge to “Øresundsbron”. The bridge is a so-called cable-stayed bridge with 206 m high pylons. The clearance under the bridge for shipping is 57 m.
Bornholm
Bornholm – a gem for tourists
The small Danish island of Bornholm attracts around 600,000 tourists every year. Mainly these come from Germany, Norway, Sweden and Poland. But Bornholm is also a popular holiday destination for the Danes themselves.
This is mainly due to the beautiful sandy beaches, which invite you to relax here, but the island has a lot more to offer. Although the island does not even measure an area of 600 km² – with around 40,000 residents – its landscape is more varied than that of some countries with a hundred times this area. There are also picturesque towns, cultural monuments and historical attractions. Anyone who decides to spend a holiday on Bornholm can be sure that it will not just be one time.
The island is highly addictive for tourists and there is just too much to explore.
What makes Bornholm so special?
One of the great attractions of the Baltic island of Bornholm in Denmark is its beaches. The beach at Dueodde in the south of the island is most popular with holidaymakers. It extends over a length of 25 km and delights families, single travelers and couples alike with its spaciousness and its fine white sand. There are also sandy beaches in the north of the island. However, these are mostly embedded in striking rocky coasts. In general, the coast in the north of Bornholm is much rougher than the one in the south, but this is precisely why it has a special charm.
Basically, according to the official island website on bornholm.info, the water quality in Bornholm is quite high and neither the current nor the tidal range (a few decimeters) are not strong. This makes the island ideal for a beach holiday with children. But it is also suitable for water sports enthusiasts thanks to the favorable wind conditions.
In addition to its beaches, Bornholm also inspires with its idyllic towns on the coast. With their small harbors and idyllic half-timbered houses, these are not just something for real romantics. Even art lovers will find something on the island.
Because this has long been home to an extensive scene of artists and artisans who sell their products, for example in downtown Svaneke – also a popular destination for tourists.
There are also historical fortresses or ruins and the four round churches, which are Bornholm’s landmarks. Even those who want to follow in the footsteps of the Vikings will find many interesting remnants of this fascinating culture on the island.
According to information on Feriepartner.de, visitors should not miss the Hammershus ruins, the largest castle ruins in Northern Europe.
There is no shortage of accommodation for guests on Bornholm. Above all, there is a large selection of holiday homes. If you are a little lucky and book in time, you will find a real gem in a scenic area or in close proximity to one of the beautiful beaches.
Important features for the reader in a hurry:
– 25 km long sandy beach
– Particularly high water quality
– Svaneke as a real urban highlight of the island
– Numerous castle ruins for visitors interested in history
– Idyllic harbors and half-timbered houses
Svaneke – a real gem
Svaneke has a special position among the towns and villages of Bornholm. Its medieval townscape is particularly well preserved because it has been a strictly listed building for a long time. It can be explored by tourists by horse-drawn tram. Then you can take a walk in the idyllic harbor. There are also some special attractions in Svaneke, such as:
– Svaneke Bryghuset, the city’s award-winning brewery, a place to go for those who like to try new types of beer.
– Small shops and boutiques with handicrafts and art by local artists
– Bech Mølle, Denmark’s oldest windmill
– Svaneke Bolcher, a candy shop where tourists can watch candies being made – by hand.
With these sights and its beautiful cityscape, Svaneke is the ideal destination for the whole family. Here, both those interested in history and handicrafts get their money’s worth, as well as those who simply want to stroll through town and then enjoy a local beer. The market square is also the central meeting point for vacationers and tourists alike. Those who prefer the quiet will also find tranquil corners in Svaneke at any time.
Hammershus – a very special kind of ruin
Some people find castle ruins more disappointing, especially if they only consist of a few stones and the meager remains of a tower. But Hammershus, the largest medieval castle ruin in Northern Europe, captures most holidaymakers. It is located on the northeast tip of the island and was once a major political center for centuries. Its location above the Baltic Sea alone makes for an impressive picture, especially in the evening at sunset.
By the way, below the castle tourists will find the most famous rock formations of Bornholm with “Camel Head & Lion Head”.
The symbol of the island – the four round churches
Bornholm’s landmarks are four round churches, which were probably built in the 12th and 13th centuries and were originally intended as fortified churches to protect against raids. Its bright white paintwork is renewed every year. With this and with their characteristic architecture, the round churches are a special sight. The pointed roofs come from later times. The largest of the four round churches on Bornholm is Østerlarskirke, of which impressive pictures are shown at historisk-samfund-bornholm.dk.
The Jaboland amusement park
An amusement park should of course not be missing on Bornholm. After all, Denmark is known for its wide range of such facilities. Jaboland is especially for fans of traditional amusement parks and small children. Visitors look in vain for fast-paced rides that provide thrills. Instead there is a small zoo, a lake in the midst of idyllic green spaces and rides that take it easy. The water country is an alternative to the sea on nice days – especially for families with children.
Bornholm is addicting
Bornholm is known for the fact that many who have once spent a holiday on the Danish island in the Baltic Sea return regularly. After all, there are only a few islands in Europe – perhaps even worldwide – that offer so many sights and such a varied landscape in such a small area. Bornholm is also an ideal holiday destination for families with children, thanks to its beautiful beaches. Despite its popularity, the island still doesn’t seem overcrowded. So even those in need of rest will always find a quiet place on Bornholm, where they can enjoy the special charm of this place.
Danish North Sea coast
General
Jutland begins on the German-Danish border – as a “continuation” of Schleswig-Holstein and extends over Skagen to the headland Grenen, which is about 3 km from Skagen and forms the northern seat of Jutland.
The Danish North Sea coast on Jutland is around 500 km long. Jutland is the only part of Denmark that is not on an island.
Strictly speaking, North Jutland is also an island, as this part is separated from the rest by the Limfjord.
The Limfjord begins at the North Sea and ends at the Kattegat of the Baltic Sea. It is approx. 180 km long and covers a water area of 1,500 km². Aalborg is located by the Limfjord.
The North Sea coast is known for its long and wide sandy beaches, its fjords, its dune landscapes and nature reserves – and of course for the Wadden Sea.
Holiday homes
Under the following URL you will find the possibility to rent a holiday home on the Danish North Sea coast:
www.feline-holidays.de/
You can find further offers at:
dansk.de or fejo.dk
South Jutland
South Jutland stretches from the German-Danish border to around Ringkøbing
UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea
This is where the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea (Vadehavet) is located, which extends in Denmark from the German-Danish border in the south to Blåvandshuk and Ho Bugt in the north. The Wadden Sea Islands Fanø, Rømø and Mandø also belong to it.
The Danish Wadden Sea, together with the German and Dutch Wadden Sea, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The sandbanks in the Wadden Sea are popular places to stay for breeding seals. The three Wadden Sea islands Fanø, Rømø and Mandø offer a partially untouched nature with dunes and beautiful beaches.
Bird lovers get their money’s worth here, as one of the world’s most important breeding and resting places for millions of birds can be found here. Especially in Tøndermarsken (Tondermarsken), thousands of starlings can be seen in spring and autumn, forming fantastic formations in the sky – a phenomenon known as the “black sun.”
Information can be found in the Wadden Sea Center (Vadehavscentret) near Vester Vedsted over the mudflats and take part in the guided tour organized by the center.
Rømø
The approximately 129 km² large island of Rømø is about 5 km north of Sylt – and can be reached from List to Havneby by ferry. But the island can also be reached by car via the Röm Dam (Rømødæmningen) at Skaerbeak.
The island has about 650 residents and is famous and popular because of its huge sandy beaches, which are even accessible by car. The largest place on the island is the Havneby ferry port. The island belongs to the Danish Wadden Sea.
Every year on the first weekend in June, the Rømø Jazz Festival takes place.
An international kite festival with over 1,000 kites also takes place every year on the first weekend in September.
And motorcycle fans meet here every year at Whitsunto a big motorcycle meeting. Mandø Mandø covers an area of 7.6 km² and is a little less than 10 km north of Rømø. Only about 70 people live on the island at any given time. Southwest of the island is the high sand Koresand, which can be visited at low tide via a mudflat hike or by tractor wagon. There is a campsite and a few holiday homes and apartments on the island. There is also a restaurant here. There is an exhibition about the Wadden Sea in the Mandøcenter. The Mandø Church from 1639 with its cemetery in the south of the island is worth seeing. The local mill is also worth seeing.
The island can be reached via two tide-dependent dams and is impassable at high tide. There are the approximately 5.5 km long Låningsvej, which is passable by cars and the Ebbevej, which is only passable by tractors that transport tourists to the island on their trailers.
These Mandø buses start their journey to the island in Vester Vedsted. The island used to be a Hallig before it was diked in 1937.
Fanø
The approximately 55.8 km² island of Fanø is located north of Mandø and is the northernmost of the Danish Wadden Islands with the main town Sønderho.
Around 3,300 people live on the island. Holiday guests were accommodated here as early as 1890.
Here the visitor will find one of the widest sandy beaches in Europe, which extends over the entire west side of the island. Everyone should find suitable accommodation in one of the around 3,500 holiday homes.
Mudflat walks are also offered.
In addition to the local fascinating nature with its plants and animals, the visitor will also find a number of interesting museums and buildings:
- Fanø Art MuseumThe museum in Sønderho was founded in 1992 and has an important collection of works by Danish west coast painters.
- Fanø MuseumThe Fanø Museum in Nordby has exhibits of local culture.
- Hannes HusThe Hannes Hus in Sønderho illustrates the everyday life of a resident of the island around 1900.
- Café Nanas StueThe privately owned Café Nanas Stue in Sønderho houses the Fanø tile collection with its tiles, some of which are over a hundred years old.
- The Sønderho Kro (pitcher) was built in 1772 and is one of the oldest pitchers (inns) in Denmark. Nowadays there is an inn in a traditional setting with local dishes.
The island is connected to Esbjerg in Jutland via a ferry – the only ferry connection to the mainland.
Ringkøbing Fjord
The Ringkøbing Fjord covers an area of 300 km², at a length of about 30 km and a width of 12 km wide. Its mean depth is only 1.50 m. This brackish water is separated
from the North Sea by the 30 km long Holmsland Holmsland Klit). At Hvide Sande (White Sand) there is a connection to the sea for smaller ships.
On the fjord are Søndervig in the northwest, Ringkøbing in the northeast, Nymindegab in the south and Hvide Sande in the west.
The Tipperne peninsula in the south of the fjord is a bird sanctuary.
Ringkøbing
Ringkøbing is a town with around 10,000 residents in the north of the Ringkøbing Fjord near the North Sea coast. The place forms the border between southern and central Jutland.
The center of Ringkøbing is home to charming old streets. The Ringkøbing-Skjern Museum and the local church from the 14th century are particularly worth seeing.
During the Second World War, the city was surrounded by the Germans with anti-tank barriers and concrete piles with iron spikes were dug into the fields surrounding the village to prevent enemy planes from landing here. In addition, numerous bunkers were built in the city.
Hvide Sande
Hvide Sande (White Beach) connects the Ringkøbing Fjord to the North Sea. Here the port and fishing still play an important role.
The Holmsland Spit with its white sand dunes, which separates the fjord from the North Sea, gives the name White Beach all honors. The visitor will find a large selection of fresh or smoked fish here.
A trip with the Scania “Maja” – Denmark’s only Brahms sailing schooner – who has been stationed here since 2009 is also great.
Anglers will find fantastic conditions here, including salmon, monkfish, herring and trout.
There are around 5,000 holiday homes available to visitors, some of which have a fireplace and a sauna, so that they also offer attractive living opportunities outside of summer.
buchung.hvidsande.dk
Søndervig
Søndervig is located at the northern end of Ringkøbing Fjord directly on the North Sea. In a vote in Denmark, the local beach was voted the best bathing beach of 2014.
A little north of the village you can see the remains of an important German bunker. The approx. 100 bunkers of the Army Coast Battery were part of the Atlantic Wall and – partially destroyed – protrude from the sand of the dunes.
The history as a seaside resort goes back to the beginning of the 20th century. Friends of culinary delights get their money’s worth here – including North Sea cheese, farm ice cream, North Sea coffee, Kusmi tea and the finest chocolate creations.
Sights
You can also find around 35 museums that are particularly worth seeing here in South Jutland, such as the Fisheries and Maritime Museum (Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet) in Esbjerg. The museum includes a museum harbor and a saltwater aquarium.
Here you will also find the Esbjerg Art Museum.
In Fanø you should visit the local art museum and the Wegner museum in Tønder.
A specialty is the Nymindegab Museum in the former fishing village of the same name in the Varde Municipality at the southern end of the Ringkøbingfjord, where the famous Nymindegab painters are exhibited.
Ribe is Denmark’s oldest town and invites you to visit its cathedral and old buildings in the narrow old streets. Every day at 8 p.m. and from June to August also at 10 p.m. a night watchman walks through the city and sings his old night watchman song. The local Viking Museum is also worth a visit.
Activities
The beaches of Rømø, Fanø, Blåvand, Henne and Vejers are among the best in Europe. Here you can swim, laze around, surf, sail on the beach, fly kites, ride a bike or even ride a horse.
Looking for amber, which can be found relatively often on the beach, should be particularly exciting.
Culinary delights
South Jutland’s North Sea coast is known for its excellent cuisine. The new cuisine is specially geared towards regional ingredients – of course everything the sea has to offer.
Lamb dishes and the local oysters are tasty. A visit to a kro, which corresponds to a village mug in German, is particularly recommended. In these traditional old buildings you can find exquisite dishes.
Central Jutland
Central Jutland stretches from Ringkøbing to about Lemvig on the Limfjord.
National Park Skjern Å
The National Park Skjern Å covers an area of around 24,500 ha = 245 km². The park, which opened on January 17th, extends over the municipalities of Ringkøbing-Skjern and Herning in Central Jutland.
It is located between southern and central Jutland.
The Skjern Au (Skjern Å) flows through the park. The water depth is between 1 m and 3 m and flows into the Ringköbing Fjord near Skjern and is the name of the park. The river is one of the most popular fishing waters in Denmark.
You will find wet meadows, floodplains and wetlands as well as numerous bodies of water. The national park has well-developed paths that lead over rough terrain with the help of wooden bridges.
You can fish, bike, go for a walk and enjoy the numerous birds. It is particularly recommended to explore the landscape by canoe or paddle boat.
The variety of local birds is overwhelming, including the little grebes, great crested grebes, teal, pintail and shovelers, from avocets to ruff, egrets, gray geese, barnacle geese and of course the lapwing.
Particularly noteworthy are the large, majestic ospreys and sea eagles
Holstebro
Holstebro has a population of around 35,000. The city is about 30 km east of the North Sea coast.
The Odin Teatret (Odin Theater) has been located here since 1966
Every year the Holstebro-Cup takes place here, a handball tournament in which about 300 teams with 4,000 participants take part.
The local extensive collection of modern sculptures on the streets of the city is particularly worth seeing. The Holstebro Kirk from 1907 is also worth seeing. It was built in place of the medieval church that was demolished in 1906.
The historic town hall is also worth seeing. Golfers can pursue their hobby at the Holstebro Golf Club. The club is considered one of the best in Northern Europe.
Nissum Fjord
The Nissum Fjord covers an area of approx. 7,000 ha = 70 km². It is located about 20 km west of Holstebro on the North Sea coast. A spit separates the fjord from the North Sea
At the present-day town of Thorsminde there has been a Perrwerk since 1866, which regulates the flow between the North Sea and the fjord.
There are extensive reeds in the fjord, which are of great importance as a breeding and resting area for the local birds – especially geese and ducks as well as waders.
Thorsminde
The port town of Thorsminde, with fewer than 400 residents, lies on the Nissum Fjord and the North Sea. The port was inaugurated in 1972 and is separated from the North Sea by dunes and is located directly at the entrance to the fjord.
It is especially used as a berth for coastal fishing boats. The local St. Georg Stranding Museum is particularly worth seeing.
In the museum the visitor will find stories about stranding and shipwrecks, a maritime children’s museum, an outdoor park with various anchors, a submarine tower and cannons from the First World War. There is also a museum shop and a restaurant.
Special attractions are the local lost and found items – including cannons, hand weapons, gold coins, musical instruments and wine bottles – of the wrecks of the English warships HMS St. George and HMS Defense.
The two ships were stranded off the coast of Thorsminde on Christmas Eve 1811, with about 1,400 Seamen perished.
The museum also has an exhibition about the Battle of Skagerrak in World War I. In the children’s museum, children can go submarines, look through a periscope, write a message in a bottle or learn how to tie a sailor’s knot.
North Jutland
The North Sea coast of North Jutland extends from Lemvig on the Limfjord to Skagen or the northern tip of Jutland Grenen. In general, the Limfjord forms roughly the southern border of all of North Jutland.
North Jutland is an island separated from the rest of Jutland by the Limfjord. North Jutland covers an area of around 4,686 km² – with around 297,000 residents.
The north of Jutland is characterized by two seas, a fjord and a unique nature. Surrounded by water, the region shines in a very special light. With Norway as a weather barrier, there are more hours of sunshine here than in other parts of Denmark.
In the west, the long, white sandy beaches stretch along the often rough North Sea, with the constant wind and the characteristic dune landscapes. The land around the Limfjord is milder. Hills, fertile fields and small sandy bays shape the picture, the water is calmer and therefore popular with boaters and surfers.
Skagen
A highlight on the northern tip of Denmark is the sophisticated but cozy seaside resort of Skagen. The city has always had a magical appeal, especially for artists who love the light there. Classic Skagen-yellow houses, often thatched and with half-timbering, on which hollyhocks climb up, a lively harbor environment, surrounded by beautiful nature with huge dunes in front of the blue sea – that is what makes Skagen what it is. The 40-meter Raabjerg Mile, one of the largest shifting dunes in Europe, rises nearby. Here there is a Sahara feeling with extensive sandy areas, a silted up church and many opportunities for climbing and exploring.
From Skagen you can easily hike the surrounding, fascinating dune landscape. A “must” is a trip to the northernmost tip of Denmark – “Grenen” (the branch), the long peninsula north of the seaside resort. There the waves from the Skagerrak (North Sea) and the Kattegat (Baltic Sea) collapse. A unique natural spectacle that attracts around one million visitors every year. However, because of the strong currents, you are not allowed to swim there.
Jammerbucht
In the west of North Jutland, Jammerbucht is the most popular holiday area in Denmark with a total of around 100 kilometers of fine sandy beaches along the North Sea.
Here you will find the classic holiday resorts of Blokhus, Lökken and Lönstrup with numerous comfortable holiday homes and wide, child-friendly beaches, some of which can even be accessed by car.
Between Lönstrup and Lökken you will find the silted up light tower “Rubjerg Knude Fyr. Also worth seeing is the 47 m high Bulbjerg – a limestone rock and the only bird rock in the country.
High cliffs and deep slopes surrounded by large forests and heathland areas interrupt the even contour of the sandy beaches on some sections of the coast.
The landscape is known for its beauty and it is a pleasure to discover it on relaxing hikes or bike tours with the whole family, for example on the ‘North See Trail’, which runs along the entire Jammer Bay.
For nature lovers, the bird sanctuaries Ulvedybet and Vejlerne are a worthwhile excursion destination, where, with a bit of luck, you can watch the birds that live here up close.
The Fosdalen valley, the associated nature center and the Svinklöv Plantation forest are also worth a visit. The Moor Store Vildmose with its adventure center is particularly popular with families.
The bay got its name because of the wailing of seafarers who used to seek shelter here during storms and were lured to non-existent harbors with lamps at night and then promptly stranded. The stranded ships were then robbed.
Limfjord
The Limfjord connects the Baltic Sea at Hals on the Kattegatt over a length of around 180 km with the North Sea at Agger and Thyborøn. The water area covers an area of around 1,500 km².
The eastern part of the fjord is more like a channel or river, while the western part is partly extended like a lake. There are several islands here, such as Mors, Fur, Venø and Jegindø.
The largest city on the fjord is the capital of North Jutland – Aalborg with around 110,000 residents. In the east of the city, the 582 m long Limfjord tunnel, completed in 1969, crosses under the fjord.
The fjord separates North Jutland from the rest of Jutland, making North Jutland an island. The Limfjord is often used by pleasure boaters as a safe and quiet connection between the Baltic and North Seas.
Worth mentioning are the Limfjord Museum in Løgstør, the Viking castle Aggersborg and the Vejlerne nature reserve.
Hirthals
The coastal town of Hirthals with 6,000 residents – about 40 km (as the crow flies) southwest of Skagen – offers one of the largest fishing ports in Denmark and the largest aquarium in Northern Europe – the North Sea Oceanarium (Nordsöen Oceanarium).
The oceanarium has aquariums with a capacity of over 4.5 million liters of seawater and gives a natural impression of the North Sea.
After a fire in 2003, the oceanarium was reopened in 2005. The seal pool with up to 10 seals born here can be found in an outdoor area.
Besides the Ozeaneum, the lighthouse designed by the architect Niels Sigfred Nebelong (1806-1871) and completed in 1863 is worth seeing. The tower can be climbed via a staircase with 144 steps and has a lamp height of 57 m.
Also the air raid shelter of the Atlantic Wall, which were built by the Germans during the Second World War. After the war, the Danish army took over the bunkers, which is why they are still well preserved. Since October 1997, parts of the bunker systems are under monument protection and are accessible to visitors.
About 7 km south of Hirthals is the Dolmen Dysse of Tornby, which dates from the Neolithic Age (about 3,500-2,800 BC). Dolmens are ancient burial sites.
Hanstholm
Hanstholm is located a little less than 100 km (as the crow flies) southwest of Hirthals and also has a busy harbor. The city has around 2,200 residents.
The Thy National Park beckons nearby. For more information, see below. In 1940 the German occupiers built the Hanstholm fortress. Together with the facility in Kristiansand, Norway, shipping traffic in the Skagerrak between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea should be controlled and, if necessary, stopped. The 495 bunkers built on 9 km² in the dune landscape around Hanstholm were intended to serve this purpose.
Aalborg
Aalborg is the capital of North Jutland with almost 110,000 residents. Therefore, the city is to be described here, although it is not on the North Sea coast, but about 30 km (as the crow flies) southeast of the North Sea.
With the combination of modern architecture and carefully restored buildings, the port city on the Limfjord has blossomed into a must-see metropolis with a hip cultural offer.
Thy National Park
This national park – one of five national parks in Denmark – was officially inaugurated on August 22, 2008. With an area of 24,370 ha = 243.7 km², it is the largest national park in Denmark.
It extends over a length of around 55 km from Agger in the south to Hanstholm in the north along the North Sea coast.
The national park is between 5 and 12 km wide. The characteristic and little touched dune heather landscape was formed by the sea, the wind, salt and sand.
Large plantations and some of the cleanest lakes in Denmark complete the picture of Denmark’s largest wilderness. The park combines the North Sea coast, sand dunes, dune heather, wetlands, freshwater lakes and lime-rich coastal slopes as well as dune plantings with a large proportion of conifers.
Thy
Kirkevej National Park 9, 1. sal
7760 Hurup
Rubjerg Knude
The Rubjerg Knude (Knude = elevation) is a shifting dune between Lønstrup and Løkken, which is up to 1,900 m long and approx. 400 m wide – at a height of approx. 70 m
Rubjerg Knude Fyr
This old and meanwhile silted up lighthouse (Fyr) is located a little north of Lökken in the middle of the Rudberg Knude. The lighthouse was closed in 1900 and decommissioned in 1958.
Reitweg
The region is a little paradise for riders. Since 2014 there has been a continuous and marked bridle path from Agger in the south to Bulbjerg in the north. Bulbjerg is a 47 m high limestone rock in Jammer Bay and the only bird rock in Denmark.
You can find “straw hotels” with overnight stays close to the animals.
The Danish Baltic Sea
Impressive nature and sandy beaches
The sunny island of Bornholm
Bornholm is assigned to the Hovedstaden region and has an area of around 590 km². The island is located in the southeast of Malmö and north of Poland in the middle of the Baltic Sea.
Bornholm’s beaches and rocky coasts
The Antoniette sandy beach in Ronne stretches over a length of several hundred meters and is particularly popular with children. Arnager Strand stretches from the fishing village of Anager to Sose Odde.
Balka Beach near Snogebaek has particularly shallow water. Many children have already done their first swimming strokes here. The attractions on this beach are pedal boats, water bikes and windsurfing equipment for rent.
Also recommended are Melsted Beach, Hullehavn Beach and Sandvig Beach. The rocky coasts give many Bornholm beaches a very special flair.
Attractions on Bornholm
You won’t have to look far for attractions on Bornholm. Runestones, entrenchments, bunkers and early passage graves offer a fascinating view of the island’s history.
The Hammerhus is considered the largest castle ruin in Northern Europe. And the nature of Bornholm is of course a sight in itself.
Bornholm for gourmets
Let yourself be pampered with culinary delights on Bornholm. Freshly smoked herring from the smokehouse lets Bornholm melt on the tongue. From cod to salmon, you can buy fresh fish right at the port.
Local agriculture grows fruits such as mulberries and figs. Bornholm’s gourmet restaurants are supplied directly by local farmers.
Hiking tours on Bornholm
The hiking routes on Bornholm lead over rescue trails, rock paths and forest paths. The hikes can be set up as a complete island hike or divided into small stages. The hike along the beach is of course particularly fascinating.
Bornholm for active vacationers
Things can get exciting on a climbing tour through the rocks of Bornholm. You can also experience adventure while diving on Bornholm. You can also learn surfing and horse riding on the island. Or how about a trip in a sea kayak?
In the far north: North Jutland
North of the Limfjord lies North Jutland. The region consists of the islands of Mors, Fur and the headland Salling as well as the island of Vendyssel-Thy, which was part of the mainland until the storm surge of February 1825, but is now connected to North Jutland by a large motorway tunnel and numerous bridges.
Therefore, it is not considered an island by many.
The administrative region of North Jutland is not identical to the geographic North Jutland.
The fishing village of Saeby
As small as the village of Saeby may seem, it not only has a wide and child-friendly beach, but also a colorful variety of restaurants and event venues.
The port city of Hals
In Hals, the capital of the Aalborg coast, modern and historical buildings meet. Unique specialty shops can be found in the shopping street of Hals.
Skagens Museum
Skagen was once known as an artist colony and Skagens Museum exhibits painters such as Tuxen, Anna and Michael Ancher and Kroyer. The visitor can find more than 1,900 drawings, paintings and sculptures in this museum.
The museum was established in 1908 and expanded again and again between 1930 and 2014.
Art and culture in North Jutland Quite a
few artists and artisans have found their home for their creative work in North Jutland. They not only offer their works for sale, but are also happy to provide an insight into their craft.
Castles and mansions are the perfect destination for a rainy day.
Concerts and exhibition rooms are also offered in the Utzon Center
Mön, Seeland, Lolland and Falster – The Baltic Islands
Where are the Baltic islands?
You can find Mön between the eastern tip of Falster and the southern tip of Zealand. Zealand is located at the eastern end of Denmark and is considered the largest island in the Baltic Sea, south of which are the islands of Lolland and Falster.
Chalk cliffs and nature The chalk cliffs “Möns Klint” offer a unique experience of nature. The chalk cliffs rise to more than 100 m and also offer excellent conditions for paragliders and mountain bikers.
The GeoCenter Möns Klint is also located on the chalk cliffs.
The Knuthenborg Safari Park
Built in 1969, the Knuthenborg Safari Park will not only delight your children. More than 1,000 animals move freely in the largest safari park in Northern Europe, including zebras.
The park is divided into the five continents of our earth and is open from April to October every year.
Lalandia Water Park
You can find exciting water attractions at Lalandia Water Park in Billund. Parents enjoy relaxing in the tropical climate while their children can try out the various water slides.
Danmarks Borgcenter You can follow
in the footsteps of the Vikings in Danmarks Borgcenter. Annually changing exhibitions tell exciting adventures from the history of Denmark.
Medieval Denmark is also presented to you in detail in the Borcenter
Between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea – South Jutland
Where can I find South Jutland?
South Jutland is located in Jutland between Central Jutland and South Jutland and is divided into Southeast Jutland (consisting of three municipalities) and Southwest Jutland (consisting of five municipalities).
Sonderborg in South Jutland
Sonderborg Castle at the harbor is the landmark of Sonderborg. Every year a variety of events take place in Sonderborg, such as the ring riding or concerts and town festivals. Tourists are also invited to mingle with the festivities. In the history center of Dybbol Banke you will be thrown into the history of Sonderborg.
Haderslev and Tonder
The Haderslev tunnel landscape offers you an insight into the last ice age. The boat trip with the paddle steamer Helene on the beautiful Haderslev Fjord is also interesting. Tonder impresses with the unique nature of the Wadden Sea, which has been declared a national park by UNESCO. Several museums await holidaymakers interested in culture in Tonder as well.
Virtual Reality in the Universe Park
The Universe Park is very modern. Here you can take a trip into virtual worlds and get to know our universe in a completely new, sensual way.
The Danish Riviera
Where is the Danish Riviera located?
The Danish Riviera is only an hour away from Copenhagen. It is located on the north coast of Zealand and offers child-friendly sandy beaches and healthy sea air.
UNESCO Geopark Odsherred
The unique ice age landscapes and the extraordinary geological conditions were the reason that the Geopark Odsherred was the first Danish Geopark to be included in the UNESCO Geopark Network “Global Geoparks Network”.
The region is characterized by an extraordinary nature, but also by the cultural services of Danish art from.
Frederiksborg Castle National Museum
on one of the three Werder in the castle lake in Hillerod is the Frederiksborg Castle with the National Museum.
the castle was built in the 17th century by King Christian IV and is considered the largest Renaissance complex of northern Europe.
for the National Museum Exhibitions from 500 years of Danish history.
The fairytale island of Funen
Where can I find Funen?
Funen lies between the Great Belt and the Little Belt. In the north of Funen you will find the islands of Samsoe and Endelave. Langeland lies in the south of Funen. Odense is the largest city on Funen.
Fairy tales for children
Funen is also known as the “fairy tale island”. This is not only due to the child-friendly beaches, but of course also to the fairy tale poet Hans Christian Andersen, who lived on Funen.
Every year, various Hans Christian Andersen events are celebrated on Funen. In the children’s cultural center “Feuerzeug” your children can even play their own fairy tale.
Castles and mansions on Fyn
It is hardly possible to experience a holiday on Fyn without catching a glimpse of one of the 123 castles and manors.
Inhabited by war heroes, counts and barons, these houses have many stories to tell. The most famous attractions among the castles are Valdemar Castle and Egeskov.
Some of the castles are still used today for forestry or agriculture.
A trip to the Odense Zoo
The Odense Zoo, one of the most popular attractions on Funen, is also located on Funen. One focus of the zoo is on the animals of the savannah. More than 2000 animal individuals from 130 different species populate the zoo. And you can get quite close to some animals. The zoo relies on a natural and relaxed environment for the animals
West Zealand
Where is the West Zealand?
You can find West Zealand to the east of Odense and southwest of Copenhagen. West Zealand is the west coast of Zealand and impresses with its 340 kilometers of coastline.
The island world of Zealand There are
six beautiful islands in the area of West Zealand. The largest island is called Agerso. It has an area of 7 km² and is characterized by fine beaches on the west side and beautiful natural areas in the north. You can experience rare flowers and a colorful animal world on Nekselo. Historic villages await you on the island of Omo and Sejero is the ideal place for relaxation and deceleration. Mystical stories entwine around the island of Sprogo.
Experience the Middle Ages and the time of the Vikings.
The Trelleborg ring wall dates from the Viking Age. Here you can test the life of a Viking for a day and practice your skills with a bow and arrow. Or try making your own butter, just like in the Middle Ages. The castle also has its own forge. Try it out: You too might be able to make a knife or piece of jewelry yourself.
Nature experiences in West Zealand
Soft green hills await you on the Rosnaes peninsula with its steep slopes, which were created during the Ice Age. Vesterlyng is Zealand’s largest heathland. Here you will also find one of the most popular sandy beaches in the region. Small river valleys, bog areas and lakes determine the image of the wetlands of the Amosen Nature Park, which stretch over 45 kilometers through a hilly moraine landscape
Djursland on the Kattegat
The Djursland peninsula is located in the east of Jutland. It is located north of Odense and in the north-west of Copenhagen about 400 km from Hamburg.
250 kilometers of coastline
The coastline of Djursland extends over a length of 250 km and includes more than 100 family-friendly beaches.
Especially the gently sloping water and the clean white beach make the coasts of Djursland so child-friendly.
Many interesting family attractions have settled near this coastline.
The Djurs Sommerland
How about a trip to the amusement park while on holiday in Djursland? The Djurs Sommerland is ideal for this. In this park you will not only find Denmark’s largest roller coaster, but also an aqua park with many rapid water slides and other wet attractions. More than 60 rides and shows make the trip to Djurs Sommerland a busy day.
The Ree Park Safari
You will spend a day in the Ree Park Safari with exotic animals at eye level. Do not miss the feeding times in the park, which always offer a very special spectacle.
Children are allowed to ride the camels and during the bird show your offspring can develop a whole new feeling for our feathered roommates on our planet.
And on the Land Rover Safari you travel right through the giraffe enclosure
The great Danish islands
In addition to the eight large Danish islands listed in the table, there are a large number of smaller islands that are located in their vicinity and are usually easily accessible. On some of these small islands, a vacation is like immersing yourself in another world.
Pleasure boaters and especially sailors like to visit the “Danish South Seas” with its around 55 islands, islets and holms. The sailing area extends south of Funen, Als, Langeland, Ærø, Lolland, Falster and Møn
Note
From Jutland you can drive to Copenhagen and then over the Öresund Bridge to Malmö in Sweden without using a ferry.
Name of the island | Surface | Population | Main place |
Aero | 88 km² | around 6,300 | Marstal |
Bornholm | 588 km² | around 40,000 | Rønne |
Falster | 514 km² | around 42,500 | Nykøbing Falster |
Funen | 2,985 km² | around 463,000 | Odensee |
Langela | 284 km² | around 12,500 | Rudkøbing |
Lolla | 1,243 km² | around 60,500 | Rødby |
Møn | 218 km² | around 9,500 | Bridges |
Zeala | 7,031 km² | around 2.3 million | Copenhagen |
Vendyssel-Thy | 4,686 km² | around 298,000 | Hjørring |
The diversity of the Danish Baltic Sea – a conclusion
The Danish Baltic Sea offers more attractions than you can experience in a single vacation.
Whether you want to experience the fairytale beaches of Funen, whether you are planning an active holiday on Bornholm or marvel
at the chalk cliffs of Zealand: You will experience a lot on the Danish Baltic Sea!
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Jelling burial mounds, runes and church
The two rune stones from Jelling are stones that were created in the 10th century and are dedicated to Danish kings and tell of their deeds.
On the smaller rune stone is written: “King Gorm erected this memorial stone in honor of his wife Thyra, innovator/pride of Denmark.”
Gorm defended Denmark against the Swedes.
The large rune stone reads: “King Harald ordered this stone to be erected in memory of Gorm, his father, and Thyra, his mother. Harald, to whom Denmark and Norway submitted and who made the Danes into Christians.”
A fight between lion and snake, a representation of Christ is depicted on the stone. There are runic inscriptions on three sides of the stone.
Together with the burial mound and the church of Jelling (picture of the church) they are listed as part of the world cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Theodor Fontane wrote the following ballad for King Grom, the first five lines of which begin as follows:
Gorm Grymme
King Gorm rules Denmark,
He rules the thirty years.
His mind is firm, his hand is strong,
only his hair has turned white.
Only his bushy brows have become white…
The burial mounds, runes and the church of Jelling were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994
Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral is built in brick in the Gothic style. This building material was used here for the first time and later became known as brick Gothic.
The cathedral was completed in 1280. The Danish kings were buried in it, the graves of 21 Danish kings and 17 queens. In 1690 King Christian V had a tomb erected in the choir for himself, his son and his wives. The main altar is a winged altar and was added to the church in 1560. The ornate carvings show scenes from Jesus’ life.
Ordinary mortals were also buried here, the floor of the church is covered with numerous tombstones. The height of various rulers was marked on the “royal column”. It should be mentioned that in the Peace of Roskile Sweden’s southern province with Lund, Malmö or Ystad came to Sweden from Denmark. The cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995
Kronborg Castle near Helsingør
Kronborg Castle is located on a headland at the far northeastern end of the island of Zealand at the entrance to the Øresund.
The city of Helsingborg is only 4 km away.
Shipping was controlled from here for 500 years.
In 1420 a fortress was built here to collect the “Sundzoll”. which only consisted of a square wall with a side length of about 80 m and guard houses in the corners. In the years 1574-85 the Renaissance castle was built on the medieval castle.
The castle became world famous for Shakespeare’s play ” Hamlet “.
In 1629 the castle burned down and was soon rebuilt in the Renaissance style, the interior of the castle was furnished in the Baroque style. The chapel of the castle was spared from the tape.
Kronborg was not always the seat of the ruler, it was a prison for a long time and served as a barracks at times.
The castle was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000
Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland
The fjord represents the eastern end of the Jakobshavn Isbra Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the world.
The glacier flows at a speed of 20-35 m per day.
The Ilulissat Icefjord is located 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle on the West coast of Greenland and is part of Denmark.
The fjord is 40 km long and 7 km wide. The fjord is bordered by the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier.
There are icebergs in the fjord that broke off the glacier during the summer months and fell into the fjord as huge masses of ice.
At the exit to the sea there is a moraine deposit below sea level on which the icebergs stick. Here huge icebergs rise from the sea.
The fjord was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004.
Stevns Klint
The Baltic island of Zealand – on which the capital Copenhagen is located – is bordered in the southeast by the steep coast of Stevns Klint.
The length of the cliffs, which are made of chalk, is approx. 15 km and is up to 40 m high. A dark streak of stone can be seen in the chalk cliffs. This is assigned to the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary with a high fossil content.
This is the only place in the world where you can find traces of the climate catastrophe around 65 million years ago. Around 75% of all animal and 60% of all plant species died out during this time – including the dinosaurs.
The cause was probably the impact of a 10 km meteorite in the Gulf of Mexico. The local chalk layers were formed around 70 million years ago and are the oldest layers of the cliff. For example, anyone interested in fossils should visit the Stevns Museum.
We recommend a hike along the 20 km long path between Rødvig and Bøgeskov Havn. The limestone church of Højerup, which dates from 1357 and is located on the edge of the cliffs, is worth seeing.
Some may be interested in the fact that an atomic bomb-proof bunker was built here between 1952 and 1954, from which the southern entrance to Øresund was supposed to be guarded. Nowadays the 1.6 km long corridors of the plant can be visited as part of a guided tour.
The chalk cliffs were added to the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites in 2014.
Herrnhut settlement Christiansfeld
The Moravian Brethren settlement is located in Christiansfeld in Sønderjylland (South Jutland) between Kolding and Haderslev (Hadersleben) and has been part of the Kolding Municipality since 2007 and was founded by the Moravian Brethren.
It was founded by the Danish King Christian VII () who in 1771 had allowed the Brethren to build a settlement on his domain Tyrstrup.
Two years later – on April 1, 1773 – the city was founded here, which the settlers named the German-speaking area out of gratitude to King Christiansfeld.
The residents of Christiansfeld received numerous privileges – such as the particularly important freedom from customs duties. They built their houses on a right-angled network of streets with an avenue of lime trees as the main axis. The unmarried members of the congregation lived in the brothers and sisters’ houses – separated by sex – until their wedding.
Also worth seeing are a widow’s house, a girls ‘and boys’ school, the pharmacy, a syringe house and the pastorate.
The church, consecrated in 1777, is completely white inside, is barely decorated and is only lit with candles to this day. The settlement of the local Moravian Brethren is extremely well preserved to this day.
The Settlement of the Brethren was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 4th, 2015.
Parforce hunting landscape in North Zealand
The historic hunting landscapes of the Danish kings in the north of Zealand include Store Dyrehave, the Gribskov forest area and Jægersborg Dyrehave.
This cultural landscape in the north of the island of Zealand exemplifies a significant period of European landscape design during the Baroque period.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the local forests were specially prepared for parforce hunting. For this purpose, star-shaped straight aisles were cut in the woods.
This “hunting star” – with a hunting lodge in the center – shows the aesthetics of the Baroque era and the outstanding position of the ruler in absolutism.
The hunting star symbolizes the power of the ruler, as the paths and lines of sight extend in all directions from the ruler in the center.
The par force hunting landscape in North Zealand was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 4th, 2015.